By Nick Sheridan

The workshop, which has been planned in partnership with Pact and is being funded Skillset’s TV Freelance Fund, will feature:

- A career audit: careers should be seen in phases; what you do next doesn’t have to be forever;

- First steps back to the workplace;

- CV clinic;

- Managing upwards: negotiating new terms with your boss;

- Networking tips.

The workshop will offer participants the opportunity to assess their professional skills objectively, and to decide the best course of action for the future. It will ask what they want from the next phase of their life, and what they want longer term. This may be to resume their pre-motherhood career, update their skills, move to a new organisation, change their role temporarily or permanently, or re-negotiate their present job.

Skillset’s Employment Census 2009 revealed that 5,000 women had left the television industry between 2006 and 2009, compared with just 750 men.

Skillset’s chief executive, Dinah Caine, said: “Skillset’s research has shown that women in the middle stages of their careers are leaving the TV industry in disproportionately high numbers. This workshop is a part of Skillset’s ongoing campaign to address this pressing issue.”

The workshop will be led by Sue Ahern or Helen Black of training consultants Creative People.

Applicants must provide a CV showing relevant professional media production experience, as well as a covering note about why they need to attend this session.

To apply for Reviewing Your Options, please visit www.indietrainingfund.com or contact: bookings@indietrainingfund.com.

More information about Skillset’s campaign to redress the gender imbalance in the TV industry can be found at: www.skillset.org/womenintv.

The Indie Training Fund (ITF) is charity which supports and delivers training for the UK’s independent TV and digital media production industry.

About the author, Skillset and Indie Training Fund

Nick Sheridan is Skillset press and PR officer. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media, with responsibility for 60 per cent of the UK Creative Industries. This comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging, publishing, advertising and fashion and textiles. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenges by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.

Indie Training Fund (ITF) is charity which supports and delivers training for the UK’s independent TV and digital media production industry. It is solely funded by voluntary donations from its member companies, which include Endemol, Hat Trick, Zodiak Media, Shine Group, Talkback Thames, Tiger Aspect, and other UK production companies. ITF provides its unique “in.indie” tailored development service to its member companies, as well as low-cost day and half-day professional training courses in London and around the UK in various genres and industry areas (including production, creative development, business, financial, legal and people management skills). As well as indie companies, freelancers can now join ITF for a small donation, and get discounts on its training courses. ITF makes major annual grants to Skillset’s TV Freelance Fund, and works in partnership with industry bodies such as Pact, Skillset, Screen Agencies, and broadcasters.